The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-07-13
Jim ARNoTT's OATH.
He Took 1T Over the Dead Body OF HIS
Child-WnI He Keep IT?
Toledo Plade.I

the gilded section of the street, and the dens
of vice and iEfamy we're In full blast. the
fiddle made discordant shrieks, and the
piano ratified as the woman peered into one
and another of the vile places. BY her
side was a girl of twelve or theresbouts,
ragged like herself, but with a face that
was beautiful, even though tear stained
and cloud cast
The two walked slowly and in silence.
Both seemed 70 have.but one object in
view, and tast was to find some one. They
{ would steal carefully up to the door of
saloon aBd peer cautiously through the
cracks, as if eager not tc disturb the reyelry
within. At one of these doors, with dis.
mopd cut glass in front, stood rough
looking fellow, who was more than half
seas over" though not too drunk to notice
the couple as thew glanced anxiously
through half open doors.
You won't ind Jim there" he growled;
81 saw him going up to the bridge half an
hour ago, so get along. We don't want
you around here, and with that he started
toward the woman as If to hurry her on
her way. Quick as flash she drew a re-
volver from the ragged folds OF her dress,
and said huskily: "Don't yer lay yer
hands on me, Mike, or TlI send you home,
sure" With threat Mike turned away,
and the woman started again up the
street.
They bad nearly reached the bridge,
VIXEN suddenly both stopped. Their eyes
hea caught sight of the one they sought.
He stood in front of the bar in a dirty
looking place. He was leaning carelessly
against the bar, his head resting upon his
left hand. In his right he held a glass of
beer. He was without coat, and the red
sleeves of his shirt were scarcely OF rud-
der hue than bis face, which was swelled
| and bloated. He was a man of large pow
| eTful frame, seemingly capable OF dong a
| large amount of work with little exertIon.
| There was that in his eyes and his general
appearance which i'm pressed one that, in
spite of the surroundings and the bad in
dications, something good could come out
| of him. The woman watched him full
| five minutes, and her eyes flashed as she
saw him pay for the drinks, not for himself,
but for half dozen other men, who were
| in all stages of drunkenness.
Finally she turned to the girl, who was
nearly ready to cry, and, whispering few
| words TO her, left her standing on the side
| walk, and, walking rapidly into the saloon.
she made STRAIGHT for the man il the red
| shirt.
| Jim, want you to come home"
The person add essed turned ar0and,
and, looking al the woman contemptu-
ously, said:
What do you want of me2 What are
you doing here, anyhow and, when he
1
sized the displeasure evident from his looks
by Selling the woman By the arm and
pushing her toward the door. She turned
sshy pale as the man laid his hands upon
her, and then drew her revolver which she
almost thrust in his face. "Jim, she said,
her voice choking with emotion, you
must come home with me, or | will shoot
you. | havo worked myself nearly to
death for you, Jim Arnott end, instead of
helping me, you steal my earnings and
come here to rink ii up. We have babe
at home, and God knows it sufersfor want
of enough to eat. Liz Is outside, and the
poor girl is so faint and hungry that she
can hardly walk. Look at me! Tha
woman you promised to cherish and pro-
tect, Jim Arnott, in rags almost to naked
ness, and without q mOuthful to eat since
morning. We might have been happy if
you had let drink alone. We might be
respectable to-day but for your want OF
manhood. Come home, say, or | will
shoot you, as true as there is God IN
heaven" She almost shrieked the last
words, and Jim Aruott vas not so drunk
that he could face the glittering barrel of
the revolver. He muttered something SIS
q sort of farewell to his boon companions,
and then led the way out followed by the
woman.
A Blade reporter, who had witnessed the
performance, walked after the trio.
A long distance out from the centre of
the city, the wife and daughter almost
dragged the half-drunken man into plain
single-story cottage. In moment faint
light cleaned through the windows, which
were devoid of shutter or shade. The In.
terror of the room was evidence enough OF
the pinched poverty which dwelt there.
A deal table, two or three rough wooden
chairs, an apology for a stove, and cot
constituted the features of the outfit. The
reporter had only time to take cursory
glance through the window, when his at
tention was directed to the cot. The
mother had stepped up Co 1t as soon as she
had lighted the feeble lamp. Her back
was toward the reporter as she stopped over
the cot. But only for a moment. sud
denly she threw her hands widely above
her head, and with an agonizing cry thas
would have pierced the stoniest heart,
she fell across the cot. Arnott,
sprang toward his wife, land, rough though
be was lifted her tenderly up. Then, for
the first time, the reporter caught glimpse
of the pale b. by face that peeped out from
the sheet. The next instant Arnott had
left the cottage and was tearing down the
street. A few minutes later and be return
ed f. Dowed by doctor. They entered
the cottage and the latter walked straight
to the cot, stopped over, placed his hand
over the child's heart, withdrew it. kneIt
/
infants breast. AS he rose he turned to
the anxious parents, who were watching
every movement very closely, and shook
his head. Another cry from the mother
who again threw herself on the couch,
startled the reporter. The doctor left the
house, and the living were alone with their
dead.
1t was impossible to hear what was said
in that house, but the reporter was wit
ness to what happened. For long time
the mother lay motionless across the cot,
clasping the dead body of her infant to
her breast. Liz, on the other side, was
| vainly endeavoring to get her mother up.
Finally she arose, and going straight to
where her husband sat, with hts face
buried in his hands, touched him on the
shoulder. Then, taking one of his hands
In her own, her tear-stained face turned
piteously toward him, she led him, almost
by sheer strength, to the cot. Then she
spoke to him, and he knelt, she by his
side. He raised bis right hand to heaven
and the reporter could only see the
womans lips as they moved, but the pan
tomine was too real to be misunderstood,
and no man could take a holier oath than
that taken by James Arnott in the pres
ence of his dead child.
Strikers GAIN Their Point.
| NEW YORK Julv 1 "A general strika nj